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Athena SWAN award for Computer Science Department

Surrey’s Department of Computer Science has been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze Award in recognition of the way it promotes gender equality and supports and nurtures staff.

The Athena SWAN department-level award is given to departments in Higher Education institutions to recognise their commitment to advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM). A number of Departments and Schools across Surrey have now won the Award, with the University as a whole having held Athena SWAN Bronze status since 2012.

The Department of Computer Science’s Bronze Award reflects the positive measures it has put in place to promote gender equality. These include building ‘unconscious bias’ and diversity into its induction programme for all new staff, and supporting staff who have young families by enabling flexible working patterns and introducing other family-friendly policies. The Department also places great emphasis on celebrating the many successes of its students.

An action plan is now being implemented by the Department which includes an increased focus on career development, supporting more female academics to progress to senior roles.

Dr Treharne commented: “We encourage all of our staff and researchers to have an awareness of diversity issues and inclusive practices right from their first day. The Athena SWAN Award is great recognition of the collective culture we aim to embrace within the Department.”